Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg gradually regaining arm strength — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg continues to make progress following Tommy John surgery last September. He is now throwing 90 feet on flat ground and his arm strength is slowly coming back.
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Marrero improving on defensive side — VIERA, Fla. — Before this spring, Chris Marrero had a reputation of being an above-average hitter, but had problems on defense. During his Minor League career, Marrero had made 54 errors in 3,124 chances. — This spring has been a different story when it comes to Marrero's defense.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang to throw another 'pen session this week — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz said Chien-Ming Wang's ailing right shoulder is making progress. — Over a week ago, Wang pitched in an intrasquad Minor League game, throwing one inning before leaving with a sore right shoulder.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Healthy Marquis feeling great this spring — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis had another solid outing Monday afternoon in a 4-2 loss to the Tigers. — Marquis threw five innings and allowed one run on three hits. The run scored in the third, when Detroit's Cale Iorg scored on a double by Ryan Strieby.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Morgan feels Nolasco purposely plunked him
Discussion:
HardballTalk, SBNation.com, The Nationals Enquirer and MissChatter
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Francona keeping options open on batting order — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The lineup the Red Sox used for Monday night's Grapefruit League contest against the Yankees could look a lot like the one that manager Terry Francona posts Opening Day against Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson on April 1.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Projo Sox Blog and NESN.com
RELATED:
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees prospect Manny Banuelos gets chance to impress against Red Sox
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts and Pinstripe Alley
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon encouraging hair growth — FASHION STATEMENT: A Tommy Bahama collector's edition shirt is one of eight featuring big-league teams. — CLEARWATER — Things are about to get hairy with the Rays. — As he does in staging a long-drive contest before practice …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
King Felix to Yanks works for everyone — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — If I'm Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, I'm calling my Yankees counterpart, Brian Cashman, and saying, “Sure, I'll talk about Felix Hernandez.” — Then I'm rattling off names: — Jesus Montero …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, Mike Silva's …, The Yankee Analysts, SBNation.com, Seattle Times and IT IS HIGH!
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Amaro: No payroll space, rumors of trades “B.S.” — I don't have any empirical evidence to support the following statement, but it seems like every time Ruben Amaro Jr. makes a statement claiming the Phillies are limited in their ability to take on payroll, it is shortly followed by a transaction in which the club does just that.
Discussion:
Philly.com, Phillies Nation and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
A's Closer Andrew Bailey Leaves With Sore Elbow — GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey has left a spring training game against the Cleveland Indians with elbow discomfort. — Bailey, shut down at the end of last season with an elbow injury, faced three batters Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Plenty in Mets organization are ready to give up on Oliver Perez, but Dan Warthen isn't in that camp — PORT ST. LUCIE - At 9 a.m. on a chillier-than-usual Florida Friday, the Mets are dispersed among backfields behind their spring training stadium. Some are taking batting practice, others fielding ground balls.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, MetsBlog.com and Mets Fever
Ultimate Astros:
Astros' Bill Hall calls Phillies' Hamels ‘a marked man’ after altercation — 2,954 — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Things got tense in the second inning Monday as Bill Hall engaged in a shouting match with Cole Hamels after being pitched inside. The close shave followed Hall's stepping out of the box …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Philly.com
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Mariners report $1.7 million profit from 2010 — PEORIA, Ariz. — Despite struggling on the field in 2010, the Mariners turned a $1.7 million profit during the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, according to the club's annual report to the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District.
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Some breaking news here as the Mariners announced that pitcher Nate Robertson will undergo elbow surgery on Wednesday and will be unable to throw for four weeks after that. In other words, scratch Robertson from contention for the fifth starter's job. — The surgery will be performed …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lookout Landing and Yahoo! Sports
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Who is out of options on the Mets? — According to MLB Trade Rumors, Nick Evans, Chin-lung Hu, Manny Acosta, Luis Hernandez, Pat Misch and Taylor Buchholz are all out of options, meaning they must first clear waivers before being sent to the minors. — I keep hearing Buccholz is very likely …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Johan Santana, New York Mets dispute report that team is ready to shut down ace's rehab schedule — PORT ST. LUCIE - The weekend was a frenzied one for Johan Santana. On Saturday, the injured ace joined Twitter and quickly collected nearly 5,000 followers, then hosted a nighttime fund-raising event for his foundation.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, New York Post, NorthJersey.com, Metropolis, New Jersey Online, MetsBlog.com, ESPN and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Mark J. Miller / Yahoo! Sports:
Mets' Santana disputes report of season “in jeopardy”
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
